Iraq, KRG deny working with Turkey on new military operation

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities have denied statements by Ankara that they were working in cooperation over its new Operation Claw-Lock on northern Iraq.

Thursday April 21 2022 04:22 pm

Duvar English

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Peshmerga Ministry on April 20 denied statements by Ankara that they were in cooperation with Turkey over its new military operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier said Ankara had been cooperating over Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq with the central Iraqi government and the KRG.

"We affirm that what the Turkish side's repeated declaration that there is a coordination and agreement with the Iraqi government in this regard is not true and is purely a claim," Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed al-Sahaf said, responding to the claims, according to reporting by the Turkish service of the Erbil-based news group Rudaw. He called Turkey's actions hostile and unilateral."

Late April 20, the Peshmerga Ministry of the KRG denied supporting Operation Claw-Lock, calling on Ankara to respect "Kurdistan and Iraq's lands."

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) launched the operation on the Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions against the PKK both aerially and by land.

Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization. Both sides have been at war for over 30 years.